The vote by Key West officers to guard the town’s rainbow crosswalks from potential state interference was unanimous and enthusiastic on the Aug. 6 assembly.
Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez, Vice Mayor Donie Lee and Commissioners Monica Haskell, Aaron Castillo and Sam Kaufman, who sponsored the decision to protect the crosswalks, voted to take all authorized steps to protect the crosswalks and the legacy they characterize in Key West.
Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover was absent from the Aug. 6 assembly and Commissioner Lissette Carey, who had attended the morning session of the assembly, was absent from the night session, when the crosswalk vote came about.
The vote came about following a number of impassioned pleas from residents, who spoke of the crosswalks’ significance to Key West’s fame for inclusion and unity.
A brand new state legislation, citing a necessity for “uniform indicators and visitors gadgets” to make sure driver and pedestrian security, went into impact June 30 and requires all indicators and pavement markings to adjust to the Florida Division of Transportation Design Guide.
“Examples of non-compliant floor pavement would come with any pavement markings … related to social, political or ideological messages or pictures and doesn’t serve the aim of visitors management,” states a June 30 memo from the FDOT.
Resident Edie Hambright reminded the fee of the contributions of Key West’s homosexual neighborhood.
“Gays have been part of the center of Key West, from Robert Frost and Tennessee Williams, to Richard Heyman, the nation’s first out homosexual mayor,” she mentioned. “From AIDS Assist through the AIDS disaster, the creation of Fantasy Fest and rebuilding Duval Road and Previous City with guesthouses, artwork galleries and eating places after the Navy pulled out of the city, and most significantly, our sea-to-sea flag that was created, magically, right here in Key West and stretched from finish to finish of Duval Road and that also reverberates all over the world. The crosswalks symbolize our colourful neighborhood and our acceptance.”
Resident Sarah Compton additionally reminded the commissioners, “Key West has by no means outlined itself by compliance or comfort. We’re the Conch Republic. We have a good time resistance to overreach. We’re recognized all over the world for our satisfaction, our humor, our grit and our refusal to be advised who we’re. This metropolis has all the time stood up for its individuals first. We didn’t construct our fame and our economic system on mixing in. We constructed it by standing out. These crosswalks aren’t simply colourful; they’re sacred. They’re a promise painted into the center of our metropolis that claims, ‘You belong right here. You’re secure right here. Your identification gained’t be erased to make politicians extra comfy.’ So this isn’t about pandering to the individuals holding the purse strings. It’s not about paint. It’s about individuals. It’s about who we’re and who we refuse to cease being.”
The fee’s unanimous vote to guard the crosswalks, which came about proper after the fee issued a proclamation celebrating the crosswalks and the “historic gayborhood” they assist to delineate, was met with applause from the crowded metropolis corridor chambers.
“Properly accomplished, commissioners,” one voice known as out from the viewers.
Kaufman thanked metropolis employees, interim metropolis legal professional Kendal Hardin and the residents who spoke in help of the crosswalks.
“I do know that we’re going to achieve success,” Kaufman mentioned. “That is going to achieve success. So let’s hold the religion and it doesn’t matter what, transfer ahead collectively.”
Castillo additionally identified that the rainbow crosswalks are positioned on the similar intersection marked by the ornamental arch welcoming individuals to the historic Bahama Village neighborhood.
“That crosswalk is correct in entrance of the Bahama Village arch, so y’all know you’re all the time welcome. God loves everyone. He don’t care what you’re. He helps you and he loves you, extra now than ever,” Castillo mentioned.